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Ian Maatsen to join Borussia Dortmund on loan but sign new Chelsea contract
Chelsea is believed to have reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to loan Dutch defender Ian Maatsen to the German side until the end of the season.
Last summer, Chelsea accepted a bid from Burnley, offering £31.5m for a permanent transfer this year, but the 21-year-old declined the proposal. Despite injuries to Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella, Maatsen has played under 400 minutes across all competitions this season.
With 18 months left on his original contract, Maatsen was made available this month, drawing interest from Dortmund. However, reports suggest Dortmund hesitated to agree to Chelsea’s demand for an obligatory purchase clause. Instead, the clubs settled on a straightforward loan, with Maatsen returning to Chelsea in the summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Maatsen has also agreed to a two-year contract extension with Chelsea, extending until 2027, including a release clause for a potential future transfer.
🚨🔵 EXCL: Ian Maatsen signs new deal at Chelsea valid until June 2027, two year extension… and it will include a release clause!
The clause will be valid starting from summer 2024.
🟡⚫️✈️ Maatsen will fly to Dortmund tonight to join BVB on loan, medical tomorrow as revealed. pic.twitter.com/rYI7wv0Ecx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 9, 2024
Despite a left-back injury crisis, Maatsen struggled for playing time at Chelsea. Manager Mauricio Pochettino often deployed center-back Levi Colwill on the left and used right-back Malo Gusto as the primary alternative. Maatsen’s appearances this season were mainly in a forward role, playing on wings and even in Chelsea’s midfield.
Chelsea is hopeful for Ben Chilwell’s return to action soon, as he is back in full training after a hamstring injury since September. On the other hand, Marc Cucurella, who underwent ankle surgery last month, remains on crutches and is not expected to return until late February at the earliest.